More women are travelling solo than ever before, and mundane things like work, family life and routine aren’t holding them back.
The rise of solo female travel in recent years has sparked a powerful shift in how women explore the world, embracing both the freedom of independence and the empowerment that comes with navigating new destinations on their own terms.
According to recent data from American Express Travel’s 2024 Global Travel Trends Report, Canadians are actively prioritizing spontaneity and solo exploration, with more than half of the country’s population (54 per cent) expressing plans to book a solo adventure in the near future.
But, travelling solo doesn’t necessarily mean travelling alone.
In fact, there’s a growing trend in travelling solo under the guidance of an expert tour leader.
Just You is a well-established tour operator based in the U.K. that specializes in guided holidays for solo travellers. They offer a range of carefully-crafted trips to destinations around the world, designed to provide a seamless travel experience with like-minded individuals. All Just You tours include expert tour guides, comfortable accommodations and transportation, and a friendly, social atmosphere, making it easier for solo travellers to explore new places without the hassle of planning on their own. Some meals are included, however, the company encourages travellers to explore on their own or with newfound friends and maintain that independent energy.
Why travel solo?
The decision to travel solo comes down to a number of reasons, whether it’s too many unsuccessful attempts at coordinating vacation time with a spouse or friend, or a difference in travel interests. However, for those who choose this travel style, several factors remain a top selling point.
“There’s a particular safety element that goes with travelling on a tour for solo travellers, and that can’t be understated,” said Meg Murgatroyd, head of trade sales, North America, Just You. “The value is also outstanding on solo tours because so much is included, from the transportation to the accommodations, and access to the real highlights.”
Intrepid Travel is another globally-recognized tour operator known for its commitment to responsible travel and sustainable tourism. They offer small group tours that focus on authentic, immersive experiences, connecting travellers with local cultures and communities in more than 100 countries. Worth noting is the company’s Women’s Expeditions, which are all-female tours led by a local female leader created to offer an insight into the daily lives and challenges of women in other countries. These trips allow women to boldly venture into new territories on trips designed with them in mind.
“Feedback on these trips is consistently high. Women love exploring off-the-beaten-track destinations with other like-minded women,” said Jenny Gray, senior product manager at Intrepid Travel who leads designing these trips. “The opportunity to learn and connect with fellow travellers and those they meet along their journey with these specially curated female experiences is really important to these travelers and the highlight of their travels.”
Recent data from Solo Female Traveler’s Club’s 2023 Solo Women Travel Survey further supports these findings, with 76 per cent of women who have never travelled solo before stating they would be more likely to do so on a group tour. Another 40 per cent would choose a women-only tour.
Women want to wander
In 2024, Intrepid experienced an overall 16 per cent increase in the number of solo travellers compared to the year before and nearly one third (68 per cent) of all solo travellers were women. There has also been an increasing number of North American travellers over 60 years of age joining trips solo in recent years, driven by women in their 50s and 60s.
“These older solo travellers range from new retirees who are ready for an adventure, to people who have different travel interests than their partner or friends and choose to travel solo on a small group tour,” said Leigh Barnes, president of the Americas at Intrepid Travel.
Additionally, Solo Female Traveler’s Club reports that 53 per cent of women said they simply travel solo because they have nobody to travel with. Others express an interest in forming strong self awareness and gaining confidence in new environments, while building meaningful connections.
Jessica Nabongo is a renowned travel influencer, entrepreneur, and the first Black woman to travel to every country in the world, a feat she achieved in 2019. She is also the author of the book, The Catch Me If You Can, where she shares her personal experiences and insights from her travels.
Jessica Nabongo, travel influencer, entrepreneur, and author,is the first Black woman to visit every country in the world.
Jessica Nabongo is a renowned travel influencer, entrepreneur, and the first Black woman to travel to every country in the world, a feat she achieved in 2019. She is also the author of the book, The Catch Me If You Can, where she shares her personal experiences and insights from her travels.
Nabongo began her solo travel journey in 2009 with a trip to Costa Rica. “It was my first time solo travelling, and I didn’t know what to do,” Nabongo recalled.
For those who are just starting out on their solo travel journeys, Nabongo encourages travel to places that are on the beaten-path, rather than off-the-grid, lesser known parts. “You’re going to feel more comfortable that way,” she says. “When you travel and you’re confident, you’re less vulnerable and less susceptible to people taking advantage of you.”
Safety still a concern
Despite the positive increase in booking numbers, women’s safety remains one of the top barriers to solo female travel.
Seventy per cent of women cited personal safety as their leading concern in the Solo Female Traveler’s Club’s 2023 Solo Women Travel Survey. These fears often directly impact the activities or decisions women make while travelling. However, the survey also notes that with experience comes less worry—78 per cent of travellers with fewer than six solo trips worry about safety versus 59 per cent of those who have travelled solo more than 10 times.
Condor Ferries reports that regardless of global events, 86 per cent of women state that they are not afraid to travel. Another 75 per cent of those who take adventure, cultural or nature trips are women, thus proving they’re not afraid to put themselves in uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations.
Concerns over safety (like government-issued travel advisories) are valid, but it shouldn’t be the overarching theme of your trip, Nabongo says.
As a world traveller, she’s heard her fair share of cautionary tales leading up to planned trips, but doesn’t take it to heart.
“Don’t take advice from people who haven’t been to the places you haven’t been to, or done the things that you want to do.”
“I think so many people are so obsessed with preparing for the worst case scenario, and I don’t do that,” Nabongo says.
“You waste so much energy, and then you’re either going to scare yourself, or you’re not going to have a good time because you’re so consumed by the thought,” she continued. “You have to pick a place where you feel comfortable alone, because otherwise it simply won’t work, and you won’t allow yourself to enjoy it.”
Claudia Bastien, a content creator and events facilitator based in Squamish, BC, agrees. A solo traveller since 2013, Bastien most recently returned from a six-month bike-packing trip that saw her log 5,000 kilometres by bike from her front door to the Mexican border, near Tijuana.
“I think one of the biggest misconceptions [of solo travel] is that it’s really dangerous,” Bastien says. “Everything we do in life has a danger to it and when we think of our lives as solo female travellers, we think to ourselves, ‘there’s no way; there are predators out there, people attack us…we have this idea that the world is out to get us,” she says. “I think everyone should travel solo but they need to hone their awareness beforehand. Don’t live in fear, but live in awareness.”
B.C.-based content creator Claudia Bastien, recently returned from a solo bikepacking trip that saw her log 5,000 kilometres to the Mexican border.
Investing in the right equipment, being mindful of your surroundings, and trusting your gut are other safety non-negotiables for both Bastien and Nabongo. An avid wild camper, Bastien emphasizes the value of investing in a satellite phone. “When you’re doing solo travel for an extended period of time, it’s also an investment in your loneliness,” Bastien says. “There are moments when you’re going to be out of cell service and you don’t know when you’re going to get back into cell service, and it’s just nice to check in with your loved ones.”
A choice as simple as your accommodations, Nabongo adds, can mean a world of difference to your comfort and safety, especially as a first-time solo female traveller. Hotels, for example, are typically more secure thanks to features like an on-site concierge and in-room safe. Her best safety tip? “Buy a local newspaper—if you appear to speak the language, you look like less of a tourist!”
Whether you’ve always wanted to experience solo travel, or are already seeking out your next independent journey, it’s a trend that isn’t diminishing anytime soon.
“There’s a freedom to it [solo travel] that allows you to hone in on your basic needs,” Bastien says. “It sounds so simple, but we forget that we meld our lives to other people around us; we’re chameleons without even realizing we’re good chameleons. “When we solo travel, we get to have that again, to be ourselves again, and it’s a really special feeling.”
Follow Jessica and Claudia’s solo travel adventures on Instagram:
Jessica Nabongo: @jessicanabongo
Claudia Bastien: @wandering_claud
